Cotton-picking machine



A. J. K IEEFER comm Fromm mgum- Filed Jan. s, 'i926- 3 she-e'sfsneeWHT/eases GUM mm1 SIHOTO-LITHO by SACKETT a WILHELMS CORP NY I l A. J.KIEFFER v '6011614 PICKING MAGHINE 1 Filed'Jan'. s. 1923.5 .3sheets-smet 2- IlllIIIIh Oct. 16, 1928.

A. .L KlEFr-'ER coTToN PICKINGMACHINE Filed Jari. a, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheetabb-011444* y chines, Aand has particular reference to a ma- PatentedOct. 16, 1928. i.

* UNITI-:o STATI-:s

'PATENT- OFFICE.;

ALLEN J. KIEFFER, HOT SPRINGS, SOUTHFDALKOTA.

COTTON-PICKNG MACHINE.

. y Application led January 8, 1926. Serial No. 80,047.

This invention relates 'to certain new and useful improvements in cottonpicking ma-` chine of thiskind adapted to travel along the rows ofcotton plants for effecting harvesting of the cotton in the lield.

The primary object of the present invention4 is to provide va cottonpicking vmachine of the above kind which is extremely simple' anddurablein construction as well as eliicient in operation. l Man'ytypesofcotton harvesting machines have beendevised which solely make use of.-`.--`air suction .to causedetachment ofthe cotor less defectiveinoperation or objectionable infthat they Vdonot effect .picking of thecot-I ton bolls from theplants, but they are more tonlin avery positivemanner and the cottonlis` not harvested-in as good condition as isdesirable. `Many other types of cotton'harvesting machines have alsobeen devised which embody purely mechanical means to 'elfectd'e'tachmentof the bolls from the plantsl and which are open tothe same objection.

Anobg'ect of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a cottonharvestngg ma- A chine which embodies picking mechanism includingcooperatively combined pneumatic 'and mechanical meansfor positivelyelfectf ing picking of the` cotton so that the latter is harvested ingood condition without un- "due injury to the plants.

Afurther object ofthe invention is to I ing hollow lingers or tubesconstructed and actuated to mechanically detach the bolls from theplants and wherein suction is caused' through the lingers when'intrudedor engaged inthe plants for assisting in detaching the bolls from theplants and holding the bolls into engagement with the lfingers whileconveyed bythe latter to a point' of dische.1

r objects will .appear as the nature of the invention isbetterunderstood, and the i case consists in the novel form, combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in theaccompanying Vdrawings and claimed. f

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicateAcorresponding parts throughout theseveral views,I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of aA cotton picking machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention; i,

Figure 2 is a. view of the machine shown in Figure 1,v partly inhorizontal section `and partly in plan;

Figure 3 is anenlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the cottonpicking tubes or lingers;`

Figure 4 is an' enlarged sectional view' tal-:en onthe ofFigl; A

Figure 5 is .an enlarged detail sectional view taken upon line 5-5 ofFigure 2;

planeindicated by .line 4-4 Figure 6 isa sectional view taken upon line.6*6 of Figure 5; l

Figure is' na fragmentary sectional view taken upon line 7-7 of Figure 2and drawn on a larger scale;

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse lsec-tion taken upon line 8*8 ofFigure 7 and Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 8 takenrespectively upon lines 9-9-and- 10-10 of Figure 7. i

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present invention includesa carriage adapted to be 'caused to travel by animal or motor power Aandpreferably consists in a `suitable frame .Vi-provided with front andrear supporting wheels 6 and respectively. Suitably journaled on theframe 5 is a transverse horizontal shaft 8 which is of hollow form andextends from side to side of the 'frame 5, and fixed upon this shaftbetween the sides of the frame is a hollow drumA 9 provided with aplurality of radial hollow picking ngers or tubes 10 which are prefaiverably arranged in uniformly spaced transverse rows. 'llhe rearsupporting wheels 7 are preferably secured upon a rotatable rear axle llwhichis operatively connected to the hollow shaft 8 by means of asprocket gearing 1 2 or the like, whereby, upon forward trarel ofthecarriage, the picking finge; orv tube carrying drum 9 is caused. torotate so that the rows of lingers are caused to successively intrudeinto the plant the machine is caused to travel ahead with the carriagestraddling a row of plants and the wheels of the carriage runningbetween the rows ot plants'at opposite sides of the particular row bymeans ot a pair of spaced concentric partitions 13 and 14, andcommunicating. with Athe intermediate chamber 15 between the par- .Ytitions 13 and 11i is a pipe 16 which is disposedV at one sidefot' thedrum 91and also communi` cates with the adjacent end portions .of theshaft 8. A further pipel17 is disposed at the opposite side of the drum9 and places the Y other end portion ot theshaft 8 in communication withthe outer chamber 18 ot thedrum 9 between the outer wall ot the latterand the outermost partition 13. Suitably mounted upon the frame of thecarriage and preferably at the forward end of the latter is an aircompressor or blower generally indicated at 19 and whose outlet isconnected by means of a flexible pipe or conduit .20. with the end ofthe shaft 8 adjacent the` pipe 1G. The other end of the shaft 8 whichcommunicates with the pipe 17 is connected by means of a flexibleconduit or pipe 21 with the` intake of the blower or compressor 19, andthe shat't 8 is closed as at 8a between the' pipes 16 and 17 so thatwhen the blower or compressor 19 is placed intol operation air underpressure is `torced into the chamber 15' while a suction is produced inthe chamber 18 as clearly indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

Suitably journaled .in and extending through the partitions-13 and 141and the outer wall of the drum 9 are a plurality of radially disposedhollow shafts 22, each of which'is provided with an enlargedouter endportion 23 upon which is secured the inner end ot one of the lingers 10andwhich is provided with a pair ot spaced diametrically opposedinternal arcuate lugs 24;as clearly shown in Figure 8. Each shaft 22 isfurther provided with a pair otports preterably consisting inlongitudinally elongated slots 25 and 26 which are respectively dis.

posed to open into the chambers 15 and 18. In other words, the slots 25and 2G are provided in the sides of the shaft 22 so that one is locatedat the inner side oi' the partition 13 and the other at the outer sideot the latter for respectively placing thel shaft 22 in. communicationwith the chamberv 15 and the chamber 18. y

Rotatably fitted inv each of the hollow shafts 22 is a hollow-valvecylinder or sleeve valve 27 which is provided with a pair ot side ports28 and 29 adapted to be respectively brought into and out of registrywith the ports 25 and 26.when the sleeve valve 27 is vgiven a rotaryoscillatory movement. The

ports 28 and 29 are in staggered relation lso that when the port l28 isbrought into registry with the port 25, the port 29 will-be out otregistry with the port 26 and vice versa.

lilach picking finger or tube l() is provided with a longitudinalchannel or groove 30 in one side thereof and extending substantiallyfrom end to end of the same, and opening through the side of the fingerat the bottom oi this groove are aplurality of perforations oropenings'31. It is thus apparent that when the ports 25 and 28 arebrought into registry as shown in Figures 7 and 9, the coinpressed airin the chamber 15 may pass intov and through the ports 25 and 28 andthen through the fingers 10 and the openings or perforations 31 'of thelatter, while, when the ports 25 and 28 are out ot registry and theports 26and 29 areregistered suction in the chamber 18 causes suction tobe produced in the fingers 10 which' results .in air being 'drawn intothe latter through the perforations 31 thereof. Thus, when the suctionis produced the cotton will be held to the sides ot' the lingers ortubes and when air pressure is forced through the fingers, said cottonis caused to be dislodged and discharged trom the lingers.

The outer end of each sleeve valve 27 is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed external lugs 32 of segmental torni and disposedbetween4 and capable oi' limited movement between the lugs 24 of theassociated shaft 22. This permits rotation ot thev valve 27 relative tothe shaft 22 associated therewith, until the desired ports have beenregistered, whereupon the lugs will eny gage the lugs 24e and then causepartial turning .o't' the associated shaft 22 and the finger 10 carriedthereby. In order that this turning movement ot' the iingersor tubes maybe utilized for det.achingtlie cotton bolls from the plants assisted bythe suction, each inger is provided along lone side of its groove 30with a longitudinal series of spaced prongs or pins 33 which projecttransversely of the linger toward the other side of the groove.

Meansis provided for turningthe iingers in one direct-ion, or in aclockwise direction as shown in Figure 4, :tor causing the prongs 33 toeffect detachment of the bolls when the lingers move downwardly andrearwardly to intrude into the plant and immediately succeeding theturning of the-valve 27 of said lingers relative to the shaft 22thereotl to etect registry of the ports 26 and 29 Afor producing suctionin the fingers or tubes,

whereby the actuation of the lingers for de 'will be again readytobe'operated orturned for repeating .the pic-king operatfionQ- Thisvalve and finger actuating'ineclianismieirlf 2() sleeve valves 27 bymeansjoffbereled` project outwardly throughyon side f-lftv v vdrum 9 andhave spur. 'pinion' 37 gagement with 'which the pinions 'fw'villv ,movewhen disposed above a horizontalfplane intersecting the longitudinalaxis of the'sliaft" 8, as seen in Figure 5, and also rigid VWitlitheVlower'portion of the spiderBS atthe .outer side thereof is. aninternalring 'gearsegment:v Lll'into engagement-With which' thefpini'Ons-s-1- y. Will move Whenbe'low suolihorizontal lt, is thusapparent tliatpvvjhen the noA at their 'rearfends and which projeo endsSecuredmaisSpideroffaigkies 'atop-1 Kd the- Cottoi `of the latter and atthe inner-'side of tl'ieisame bodies a'plurality of.transjyerse'sliaft's Bifcafried by the drum 9 Withintlie inne mosteom-.

part1nent- 35 of the latter as Wel-lg so that oneof the samels'disposedof each row of fingers.- :These sh rotatably geared to lthe innerfngenerally indicated at Byandijth'eish i theirprojecting'ends.."A fr ,s`er; is mounted 'onthe shaft8 ou va-rdly of t' projecting ends ofth-eAIshafts 34 so thatt shaft 8 may turn in said spider @iframe-,a thelatteris restrained :from `rotationby` "s" able means such as a pair of.rods`39fivh1' connected and piv'ted upon V'the rearfa' Wardly7 andupwardly and `tlreinfo positesides ofthe'shaft 8, :Rigidly by the`spider 38 adjacent the upper--portion is an external ring gear segmentl()=i1f1tLeplane. drum 9 is rotated, the fingersl a'refc-,aused tointrude into the plants and by reason'A of the engagement of certain ofthe pinions 37 `With the internal ring' vgear segment 4l, such in trudedfingers Will be rotated in a clockwise direction for causing the. spursor prongs 38,

to detach the bolls, While at the same time the sleeve valves are turned`relative to the finger or tube shafts so `as to establish suction inthe' fingers or tubes to assistvin. detaching the cotton bolls andmaintaining the latter upon the sides of the lingers. the frame 5,connected to the axle ll-asat 4S,

and disposed to encase the upper portion of- :the vdrum and theuppermost fingers thereof isa hood 4Q, having a discharge end ta at therear side of the drain adapted 'to be paeed in communication with theopen end of a suit- \ab1e'co llecting reeeptacle p oiitvvardlyoftheseisfdetaohed 4fronr'tliv latter' A:horizontalrotatable drummounted upf ia transverse axis the fingersv may pass. into and Suitably mounted uponas Well as the' advantages of the present 1nefeiably u posedfiof jmaterial pervious to.;v air.y As: the

loathe@ urea-elves of rheafhdf otated a 1 counter-c ekvvis.'37'Wi`lllengage theeirternal ring gearns'egrnentintrisa-mglfcemannicau-efwi pressed 'fair "ch'amberlso tha l 4,from-fthehood 42y into t tocommunicationWitl e ars ide ofthe drum I:Qiand atftear upper side ofthe=`clatter by inensoff iexrblepipes 'enduits 4th Inthisivay'air under presey isA forced ntothe hood 42.50 aSQto `cause elblown from th'e` ,lait'ter` frear- 'afrily into he receptacle fill andlat the same nefto assist'-iirdetaohment ofthe 4cotton litters ontube'swhen' the llatter harging -p'ositionl Within the l ood; The principalfuncs to causeitravel of the coto dfinto-thefreceptacle 44, whilessiirejingtlre. fingers is principally L orde elringthe cotton from theAny suitableme'ans may -be provided ausing'operat'ion of vthe ffanll,and a belt drivingfineans 4751 for this purpose is merely illust tedbyWayijof example. By providing`theii1igers or tubes upon a o utgofgtheAplants' Without causing undue instantially throughout their length,'a'inznii- 220 mum amount of cotton;mafybeharvested in a given amountoftime. y

F rom the foregoing deseript-irm it believed that thebonstruction' andoperation' vention 'tvillbe readily understood and preciated by thoseskilled in the art;

1 l. ln cotton picker, a carriage, ai drain carried by the carriage?arialiy rotatable hollow picking lingers supported by and projectingradially from the drum, means for rotating the drum for causing thelingers to intrude into and withdraw7 from the plants as the carriagetravels, means for causing suction through the fingers while they are atintruded position and for causing outward air discharge throughithemwhile they are atgwithdrawn position', and cotton bollengaging anddetaching prongs carried by said lingers, and means to rotate thelingersupon rotation of the drum, said drum having a. pair of chambers,means for producing suction in one of the chambers and compression ot'air in the other chamber, and means for causing. suction and airdischarge through the lingers embodying. rotatable sleeve valves foralternately placing the chambers in communication with the lingers.

2. ln a cotton picker, a carriage, a rotatable drum carried by thecarriage, aXially rotatable hollow picking lingers supported by andprojecting radially from the drum, means for rotating the drum forcausing the lingers to intrude and Withdraw' from the plants as thecarriage travels, means for causing suction through the fingers whilevthey are at intruded position and for causing outward air dischargethrough them while they are at withdrawn position, and cotton bollengaging and det'aching prongs carried by said lingers, and means torotate the tingers upon rotation of the drum, said drum.

having a pair of chambers, means for producing suction in one of thechambers and compression of air in the other chamber, and said means forcausing suction and air discharge through the fingers embodyingrotatable -sleeve valves for alternately placing the chambers incommunication with the tinn gers, and tue means for causing rotation ofthe lingers embodying operativeconnections between the sleeve valves andthe lingers.

8. In a cotton picker, a carriage, a rotatable drum carried by thecarriage, axially rotatable hollow picker lingers carried by" andprojecting radially from the drum, means for rotating the drum forcausing the lingers to intrude and withdrawfrom the plants as thecarriage travels, means for causare at in truded position and forcausing outward air discharge through them While they are at withdrawnposition, and cotton boll engaging and detaching prongs carried by saidlingers, and means to rotate the lingers upon rotation of thc drum, saiddrum having a pair of chambers, means for producing suction in one ofthe chambers and compression of air in the other chamber, and saidmcans'for causingl suction andv air discharge through the ling embodyingrotatable sleeve valves for alternately placing the chambers inconmiunicaiion with the lingers, and the means for causing rotation ofthe lingers embodying operative connections bctwcen the sleeveY valvesand the lingers, said operation connections permitting limited movementof the sleeve valves relative to the lingers to establish suction or airdischarge in the latter prior to rotation of the same.

4. ln a cotton pickera carriage, a hollow shaft revolubly mountedtransversely of said carriage, a drum body axiallylmounted upon saidshaft to revolve therewith, means forming a plurality of annularchambers within said drum, a partition Within said hollow7 shaftintermediate the ends thereof to dividelhe saine into. two sections, anair forte pump, means connecting said pump with said shaft endsv fordrawing airy from one nd and forcing air into the other end, an air lineleading from one end of said hollow shaft to one of said chambers, anoutlet air line leading from the other end of said hollow shaft toanotlier of said chambers, a plurality of hollow picking arms projcctingradiali)v from said` drum and each having a. tubular extension passinginto said annulaichambers, and valve controlled means for permitting airto be sucked into one of said chambers through said picking lingersduring a portion of the revolution of said drum, and other valvecontrolled means for permitting air to be forced through said lingersfrom another of said annular chambers upon the lingers being brought toanother position through the revolution of the drum, and means torevolve the drum.

In testimony whereof I allix my signaturc. ing suction through thelingers While, they ALLENA J. KIEFFER.

